Finally, someone to back up what I've been saying about EF Bandung for the last year or so!

Glad to hear you've enjoyed yourself mate....I thought you would. Are you at Banda or Cipaganti? Good to see the salary's gone up! It was 5m when I started, then 5.5m when I left for a first year. You started in January last year, didn't you? I'd finished my contract then, but was still doing emergency teaching there to raise some dosh. Was one of your contracts a six-month one or something? Which teachers are working there now? Is Nigel still there? Actually you might want to reply to some of these questions in a private message.

Thanks for the EF Bdg link - I'll check it from time to time. How long before the other links on it are active? It was funny seeing a couple of my old students on it.

I'm starting to yearn for life in Bandung again actually. Might consider doing the irresponsible thing and leave my stable public service position late next year, if EF will have me back. I've been imagining playing tennis and swimming before work, and picking up cheap heavy metal cassettes again. Certainly would beat my current cold bike ride into the city at 8:40am, but would have to miss out on the odd Swedish death metal tour we get here. My Sundanese wife might enjoy being with her family again though.

Anyway, time to stop rambling and dreaming, and go to bed. Hi to all at EF!

That's hardly surprising AsiaT - I learned Bahasa in Johor. Thanks for the translation. I've already guessed that "bule" is the equivalent of "matsalleh" and I'll have to harden up my words ending in -a and roll my R's like a true Javanese!

JUST TO SET THINGS RIGHT, YOU SAID YOUR MAKING 10,000,000. A MONTH? AND YOU’RE WORKING AT EF? I HAVE NEVER OF ANY ONE GETTING MORE THAN 7,000,000.

Sure. As usual every year with EF entitiles you to a pay rise buts its still too low. If you are concerned with money, DoS'ing is the way to go. The DoS in Palembang gets more than 7. Willy, you have to remember that a lot of these individual franchises are up for negotiation. Especially if your proven u can do the job well. Its not inconceivable to ask for 12 mill to dos the EF Palembang franchise. Though if I was to negotiate a 3rd contract in Palembang, I would ask to be in a fixed US or NZ currency. The way the rupiah is going, its the only way to stay ahead since most of us have student loans, car payments, mortages and so on.

With the high turn over of staff, its easier to negotiate for 2nd or 3rd contacts. At the end of the day, they know we can find something else better, so its in their interests to keep us around as long as possible. Remember, with the bules, EF would become like any other local language school (no more 800,000 a month fees).

I think you need also to look at what else is offered, over and above the salary.

EF Kebon Jeruk supplied a 2 bedroom unit, a maid who washed and ironed and cleaned twice a week, paid the rates, the garbage and the local security.

It was a pretty fair deal.

However, other EF schools pay nothing more than the base salary, will not help with housing or anything, so you need to read the contract quite carefully, and see what they will and won't provide.

When EF Semarang advertised about four years ago, they offered around Rp2.5 million. I wrote and said that was a very fair weekly salary.

Of course, it was a monthly rate. The same for their other schools in Central Java and DIY. It rose by Rp600.000 a couple of years ago, and I believe another incredible Rp200.000 per month has been added to that. No housing, etc. Promised increases for experience are not honoured. Sorry if I keep getting on my soapbox here about this, but newbies need to be warned.

If you're coming out to Indo you have to realise that there are massive variations everywhere you go. It is possible to live the idyllic life and be easy, or you can end up with the most stressful year of your life...
Obviously, you have to be adapable - middle-aged sex pests should stay put- jakarta is alraedy full to capacity. Also, the stuents are noisy, fun and demanding, so be ready to activate your imagination. If you're boring, go to Germany.
Be careful what you apply for - you just might get it - don't overstretch the first time, or you'll get your ring stretched. If you have a skill, flaunt it, but be wary that most schools are not really schools, more money-makers, and they'll hire a first-timer over more expensive experienced teachers.
It's a tough market here, but the culture and the life are more than worth the effort, so stay on it!!!